Ministerial harassment complaints policy queries: FOI release

Information requested

In relation to the following harassment policy: https://www.gov.scot/publications/handling-of-harassmentcomplaints- involving-current-or-former-ministers/

1. Is the policy still in use?

2. How many complaints has the Government received about current Ministers from January 2020 to the present day?

3. How many complaints has the Government received about former Ministers from January 2020 to the present day?

4. I would also ask in relation to requests 2 and 3 above if complaints occurred, when such complaints were submitted, and if they have been concluded.

Response

In response to your first question.

No.

However, to answer your enquiry fully as possible, outwith FOI legislation, the latest version of the complaints procedure can be found here.

Making a formal complaint about a minister’s or former minister’s behaviour: procedure - gov.scot

In response to your second and third questions.

Some of this information has been published previously as part of an FOI response.

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

Minister complaints - past five financial years: FOI release - gov.scot

The information on complaints received since the updated procedure came into operation on 22 December 2022 are published online at Making a formal complaint about a minister’s or former minister’s behaviour: procedure - gov.scot, and I can confirm that no formal complaints against a current or former Minister have been received since 2022 up to the date of your request.

In response to your fourth question, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. Having conducted appropriate and proportionate searches for information in line with your requests, the Scottish Government holds no recorded information within the scope of your request.

However, to answer your enquiry fully as possible, outwith FOI legislation, the latest the latest published figures for complaints about a Minister or former Minister can be found here Scottish Government Ministers: complaints - gov.scot

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.